The Law of Reciprocal Inhibition-How Turning Off One Muscle Activates It’s Opposite

The Law of Reciprocal Inhibition – How Turning Off One Muscle Activates Its Opposite

What Is It?

Reciprocal Inhibition is a reflex mechanism where:

When one muscle contracts, its direct antagonist is neurologically inhibited to allow smooth movement.

It’s an automatic spinal cord reflex, meaning it happens without conscious input.

Real-Life Example:

• When you contract your biceps to bend the elbow, your triceps are inhibited so they don’t resist the motion.

• When you extend the leg using the quads, the hamstrings are neurologically dialed down.

This is vital for fluid movement, but in martial arts, it becomes a powerful tool for control & dysfunction.

🥋 Kyusho & Tuite Application:

1. Disabling Muscle Groups via Reflex

Let’s say you want to lock someone’s arm:

• Press or strike LI10 or LU5 (motor points on biceps line)

• That can suppress the biceps, especially if you stretch the triceps during the lock

• Their ability to resist collapses because the triceps “win” neurologically

You didn’t overpower the biceps — you simply shut them down by activating their opposite.

2. Escape and Flow Strategies

In flow drills, this can be used to reverse an opponent’s structure:

• If they contract the pec or bicep to resist, activate their antagonist (posterior deltoid, triceps, rhomboids)

• Or use pressure on antagonist meridian points (like LI vs SI)

You’re not just “reversing energy” — you’re triggering reciprocal reflexes built into the spinal cord.

Drill Idea:

Try this:

• Have a partner tense a muscle (like biceps during a grab)

• Lightly stimulate the triceps insertion point with pressure (e.g., TW11)

• Have them try to resist again — the biceps will often falter without pain

Understand the Science. Master the Art!🐼